Educators experienced profound changes, especially related to proper support of English Learners, as schools moved to distance learning. Many educators were left unsure of what was expected of them in terms of conducting English Language Proficiency (ELP) assessments and meeting compliance requirements. 

TransACT’s Parent Notices team looks forward to the National ESEA Conference every year. It gives us the opportunity to meet with and learn more about our current customers as well as stay up to date on the topics that are at the forefront for educators working in ESEA (ESSA) programs across the country. We’ve poured over the schedule and wanted to provide you with some presentations that we think would be worth checking out at the virtual National Association of ESEA State Program Administrator's Conference, February 8-11, 2021.  

TransACT ParentNotices published a free resource to support school districts in keeping our communities informed, healthy, and safe on September 1st, 2020. As the holiday season often includes travel, we want to highlight the complimentary COVID-19 letter template for state and local education agencies, schools, and out-of-school-time programs. 

Title III of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) includes a fiscal restriction called ‘Supplement not Supplant’ that includes federal, state, and local funds and laws. This means that if there is a federal, state, or local law that requires EL related programs, services, activities, or expenditures, then Title III funds cannot be used to pay for the things required by other laws. 

To meet federal and civil rights requirements, school administrators must provide parent communications in a language parents can understand. Administrators are specifically required to meet these communication requirements for the top 5 languages in their district.

The most recent change to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA program runs counter to two recent court rulings. The Administration’s most recent pronouncement notes that new DACA applications are blocked, and renewals shortened from two years to one.

In June 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the Trump administration’s efforts to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program or DACA. The ruling was a massive win for DACA recipients but left open the possibility for the Trump administration to try to rescind DACA again, using different legal arguments.

On Thursday, June 18, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the Trump administration’s efforts to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program or DACA. While this is a huge win for DACA recipients, it is still possible that the Trump administration could try again, using different legal arguments.

TransACT hosts as Carol Salva presents "Success for SLIFE!" A webinar that shares strategies and techniques for creating success with a a sub-population of ELs, S(L)IFE students, and offers techniques that allow for capitalization on promising trends for educating this already at-risk group of students. This webinar was recorded on Tuesday May 19th, at 9 am PT / 10 am MT / 11 am CT / 12 pm ET. 

COVID-19, also known as the Coronavirus, has shuttered schools across the nation and forced the education of students to move to an online or distance learning methodology, endangering equitable access to educational programs for many students, especially English learners. This pandemic has caused disruptions in many areas, including meeting compliance requirements related to communicating with parents found in federal education laws, including the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).